Heroes Series: Seclusion

Prologue

Ivy's POV 

"I did not sign up for this," I said annoyed.

"No -- we did not sign up for this," Blair cut in.

I could hear Blair storming around inside the bathroom throwing her things inside her duffel. The sound of her angry steps kept me feeling annoyed and confused. I didn't want this. We didn't want this.

"I can't believe Mom and Dad didn't even leave a voicemail. It was Mom's freaking assistant. Like who does that?!" Blair added. "Do I not even matter anymore? Couldn't they at least have called -- or no, better yet, couldn't they have visited?"

I looked at both of my fuzzy blankets; a mint green one and gray one lay there. I settled for the gray one. I could feel Blair glaring at me from the doorway. "Blair, do you think we're being get rid of?" I asked. I knew something was fishy. Just a few months ago our family was thinking of sending us to a school in Japan so that we could garner some abroad experience.

"What the actual fuck? Ivy, please. No. We are being punished."

Wait, what? "Why?" I asked, incredulously. I could see Blair now pacing around our room, thinking to herself. She suddenly paused and something in her eyes knew but there was something else there: fear.

"Do you remember what happened when I was little?" she asked slowly. Immediately the memories hit me one by one. It was what brought us together and yet it was a very taboo subject in our family. Nobody talked about it.

I stopped looking through my things and looked at her. It almost felt like yesterday. Blair still got nightmares about it hence why we had to share a room. Everyone told me that she used to be very outgoing and happy all the time but after the incident she was never the same. Her friends weren't allowed over anymore, holiday gatherings were smaller, Mom and Dad stopped letting her play outside alone. She grew more quiet and cautious; she was no longer fearless Blair.

"Do you think it has something to do with that?" I asked, looking at her and trying to find some sort of answer in her eyes. She looked away and started fidgeting with her necklace. She only did that when she was nervous.

"How about we stop talking about it and let's just pack? Maybe we can go grab a boba after we're done," I said, trying to ease the tension in the room. I didn't want Blair to get worse. She nodded and proceeded to pack.

"Do you think there will be cute boys at this new school?" I asked. Blair wrinkled her nose and looked at me. "Korean boys are not cute," she said. I laughed softly and looked at my ring. It was the only thing they could give me that belonged to my Mom. My real Mom.

"She is probably looking out for you. You know, your real Mom," Blair said. I nodded and forced a smile. "Yeah you're probably right."

"But anyways you already know I prefer my men white, tall and broad shouldered," she added. I laughed and shook my head. She always knew how to make me feel better.

"What about your middle school boyfriend?" I replied with a sneer. "From what I could recall he was Korean, no?"

"Well for your information, Ivy. He was in fact HALF white. And besides, he was an excellent gift giver. Remember all our weekaversaries I had with him? First week was a necklace and the last week was a puppy," she replied.

"I still can't believe you dated a boy who believed in weekaversaries. But what I can't seem to wrap my head around is the kid got you a puppy..and you kept it. Even Mom and Dad let you keep it!" I said with a laugh. "You're awfully spoiled."

"That may be true but at least I have a puppy," she said. I shook my head and continued sorting clothes from my drawers and placing them inside boxes.

"Hey Blair," I started. "Can we make a promise?"

Blair looked at me curiously. "What promise?"

"Let's still be close like this. I want us to be able to still do things like this. Girl talk and all that. You're my best friend, Blair."

"You're my best friend too, Ivy."